Safety appliance for cartridge-loading machines.



No. 676,472. Patented June I87 QL G. M. PETERS. SAFETY PPLINCE FUR CARTRIDGE LUING MACHINES.

(Application fed Sept. 17. 1900.)

2 Sheos-Sheet 2.

(N0 Model.)

.EL ima..

wie

GERSIIOM MOORE PEERS, OF CINCINNATI, OIIlO, ASSIGNOR T() Tllll lll'llllib CARTRIDGE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SAFETY APPLIANCE FOR CARTRIDGE-LOADlNG lViACHlNES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 676,472, dated Jun-e 8, 1901. Application tiled September 17, 1900. Serial No. 30,222. (No mode-l Zo all whom, it muy rrr/1 Hun-,.- der are delivered to the cartridges and also BeitknownthatLGnusnoMMooaaln'rnus, illustrating means for determining` the quana citizen ofthe United States, residingat Cintity or amount of powder contained therein Cinnati, in the county of llamiltoi. and State and the construction and attachment of the 5 5 of Ohio, have invented a new "and useful escape-pipes. Fig. 6 isa transversesectional Safety Appliance for ;iit1'idge-l. 'o;iiling Ma detail view on tho lino (i o', Fig. 5, looking in chilies, of which the following is a specilicathe direction of the arrows and illustrating tion. i the adjustable powder-charge cut-oft' slide.

This invention relates to safety appliances Fig. 7 is a broken detail sectional View ot the co io for cartridgeelomling machines. adjustable cut-oft slide. Fig. 8 isa detached Ono object of the invention is io provide detail view in perspective of the link in the safety appliances for cartridge-lozuling maoperating-rod by which the powder-dclivery chinos which are simple in construction and drinn is actuated.

cifective in operation. The same part is designated by the Same 65 l5 A further object of the invention is to proreference-sign wherever it occurs throughout vide an arrangement ol' apparatus wherein the several views.

danger from accidental explosion in loading In the operation o eartridgsi-loading macartridges is reduced to a minimum. chines it is a matter of material importance A further object ot' the invention is to proin the interest'. of safety to the workmen and 7o 2o vide means whereby the hulk of powder embuilding in which the loading-machine is loploycd for loading cartridges is removed from cated to remove the bulk of powder required the place of greatest danger in the handling for effecting the 'loading of cartridge-shells thereof during the loading operation. as l'ar from the loadingnnachine as possible Other objects of the invention will appear in order to avoid the danger and destruction 75 25 more fully hereinafter. resulting from accidental explosion.

'lheinventionconsists,substantially, inthe lt is the purpose ol' the present invention construction, combination, location, and arto provide a construction and arrangement rangement of parts, all as will more fully wherein the bulk of powder is removed from hereinafter appear, as Shown in the accomthe locality or immediate vicinity of. the load- So 3o panying drawings, and finally pointed outin ing-machine and to provide means whereby the appended claims. the powder required for use for the charge.: Referring to the z iceompanying drawings of the cartridge-shells is supplied to Athe ina.- and to the various views and reference-signs chine only in comparatively small quantities. appearing thereon, Figure l is a view i'n side It is also my purpose to provide a construe` 85 35 elevation, parts broken off and parts broken tion and arrangement wherein in case expio out, illustrating a construction and arrangesion occurs, accidentally or otherwise, the nient embodying the principles of my invenconcussion resulting therefrom will be taken tion. Fig. 2 is a similar view on' a reduced care of and prevented from effecting damage scalc`,illustrating the manner of housing the or destruction to the surrounding machine 0r 9o' 4o hopper in which is contained the bulk of building and to prevent the flash from being powder employed. Fig. 3 is a broken detail commnnicatedto themainbulkof thepowder. view in section through the delivery end of With these objects in view arrange one or the hopper containing the powder and showmore suitable hoppcrs A to receive the main ing the means for delivering therefrom the bull( 0f the powder to be supplied to the load- 95 45 powderasrequired foruse. Figdisa broken ing-machine. This hopperlprefertoarrange sectional detail vie 'illustrating a portion ot in a diierent part ol' the building i3 or reoni the means for actuating the powderdcli\.'cry from that oceu pied by the loading-machine drum oreylinder. Fig. 5 is an enlarged broken C. In the form shown I prefer to arrange tho detail view in longitudinal section showing hopper upon or adjacent 'to the roof ol' the loo 5o the consiruction and arrangement of chambuilding, as indicated in Fig. i?, suitably inber trom which the separate charges of powl closingthe samein a casingordoi'iiiei'-vcindow l) to pr tect the same from 'the elements. At'

the delivery end of the hopper form e, chamber E, in which is suitably mounted a drum F, having a series of pockets or chambers Gr in the peripheral surface thereof,r as clearly shown in Fig. 3, each pocket or recess adapted to receive a small amount of powder as said drum or cylinder is revolved. The chamber E terminates at its lower end ina tube H, and the drum F forms a partition between the delivery-tube H and the bottom of the hopper A, as clearly shown. The operation of this feature of the invention is as follows: The 'powder to be fed to the machine is delivered in bulk to the hopper A. New by revolving the drum F the pockets in the peripheral surface thereof as lthey enter the hopper A. during the revolution of said drum beeofnie iiiled with powder, which powder is carried by the rotating drum until such pockets reach the extension or tube H, whereupon he powder is deposited or delivered from the pockets or recesses in the drum into said tube or channel. .Thus the drum F operates as a G, cut oft for the hopper and eiects the transfer o the powder from the hopper only in small quantities. y

The powder-transfer drum may be actuated in any suitable or convenient manner at a speed dependent upon that required ior'properly presenting or feeding the powder to the loading-machine. i have shown a simple and convenient arrangement for actuating the transfer-drum F, but io which my invention is not limited orrestricted. inthe ferm shown l provide the drum with a feedracir in the form oi. a ratchet-dislt J',- with which engages a pawl K, carrie-d bya lever lli, suitably mounted, and to one end. of which is connected an actuating-rod M. By suitably projecting the actuating-rod M the lever il is rocked, thereby causing the pawl K to `the teeth of ratchet-disk .l and eilect a rotation thereof, and with it the transferdruin ii", a step-by-step feed or rotation being thus imparted to the transfer-drum. if desired, a spring N may be arranged to oppose the rocking movement of lever L. Of con rse many other specifically different arrangements of apparatus and. devices may be devised for effecting the actuation ot' this powder-transfer drinn and still fall Within. the spirit and scope of my invention. do not desire, therefore, -to be limited or restricted to the particular construction shown and described.

The actuating-rod M may he projected or #actuated in any suitable or convenient manner. i have shown a simple and convenient arrangement, to which, however, the invention is not limited, wherein l connect said rod with the reciprocating head O or other convenient movable part of the loading-machine througha connecting-pitman P, where by upon each reciproeation of the head O a rptuiivc movement through acertain distance it. imparted io the transfer-drum if. Recipe'iefive rocation may be imparted to head in any suitable manner, as by means of a crank connection with the main driving-shaft ofA the machine. In order that a certain degree of vlost motion may be provided between rod Mv and oonnecting-pitman P, so that the full stroke of head O mayuot be imparted to rod M, I prefer to provide the end ot' pitman P with a transverse slot, as indicated atQ,Fi'. 4, in which slides a cross-pin R in the end of rod M or link connecting said pitman with said actuating-rod. Thus the pitmanP may travel through a portion of its stroke before the pin R reaches the limit of slot Q, and hence before therod, IVI begins to move. If desired and in order to still further regulate the distance through which the transfer-drum F is rotated upon each reciprocation of its actuating-rod and connecting-pitman, thus regulating the rapidity of supply or transfer of the powder from the hopper to the loading-` machine, l may provide an adjusting connecting-link S, in which the proximate ends of said actuating-rod and pitman are suitably connected. in the form shown this link comprises a plate having dovetailed Ways formed therein, as indicated at T, Fig. 8, iu which ways slides a block W, to which the end et rod M is connected, and I provide a series of holes or sockets A/ -in said link, in any one' of which may he inserted a pin or stud,vso as to confine the block W' therein. Thus by removing the pin 'or stud from one of said holes or sockets andplacing the same in another the stroke of rod-M may be regulated, thus regulating the arc through which lever L is rocked, and hence regulating the amount ot' rotation or rotative movement imparted to the transfer-drum.

From the delivery powder is delivered into a chamber B2 (see Fig. 5) in small quantities, as above explained, and from the chamber such powder 4is delivered in the form of a charge containing the required quantity for a cartridge, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the main body or bulk of the powder from which the supply is drawn is removed from. proximity to the loading-machine, thus reducing danger of destructive explosion by accident o'r otherwise. It will also be seen that the p wder isdelivered toy chamber B only in small quantities, 'so that in case of explosion only a small quantity of -powder will be affected.

ln order to stili ators and apparatus, I provide thefollowing construction: The chamber B2 is formed in a casing C2,vvith which casing are connected the tubes D2 E2 and the tubes F2- G2. The-tubes E2 F2 are arranged within the tubes D2 and. G?,iespectively,.the tube E2 freely communieating with the chamber B2 and the tube F2 ycommunic'ating 'with said chamber through an opening suitably closed by a fragile matcrial--such, for instance, as glass-as :mdr-

tube or opening H the further protect the operthrough the tube E2, which, as above exteiier threads of extensions J2 K2, respectively, while tubes D2 and G2 are interiorly threaded;V to be screwed onto the exterior threads of extensions J 2 K2, respectively. l) y this construction it will be seen that the interior tubes E2 F2 are wholly inclosed within the-.tubes D2 G2, respectively.' Therefore in ,case of an explosion occurring within chamzo:

ber B2 or within the tubes E2 F2 and which develops force sufficient to destroy the pipes E2 F2 the air contained within the space bctween said tubes and ltheir inclosing tubes will forni a cushion to prevent transmission of the concussion to the outer or inelosing tubes, the operation, in case of an explosion occurring within chamber B2 being to shatter theragile partition H2 between said chamber B2 and tube F2, and the compressed gases resulting from the explosion, taking the path of least resistance, will follow the tube F2 to the outer air, thus removing and reducingv the danger of destruction resulting'from the explosion, and the air-space between the inner tubes E2 and F2 and their inclosing tubes D2 G2 serving to prevent destruction of the outer tubes in case the explosion is of sufficientl force to destroy the inner tubes.

The powder is supplied from the hopper in the Imanner above described to chamber B2 plained,freelycominunicatesthcrewith. The communication between the hopper and the upper end of tube E2 is effected through a funnel L2, which communicates at one end with -the extension H and 'at the other end with the open end of tube E2. The upperends of tubes E2 and D2 are open, and therefore in case of explosion the gases resulting therefrom are notl confined in a closed space, but are free toA forded 'bythe transfer-drum F actingas a cut-.

olf for the hopper, by arranging sa'id hopper out of alinement ith the tube E2 the flash will travel freely ou!l of the free or upper end of saidttnbe, thus avoiding danger of transmitting such [lash to the powder in the hopper. u it may sometimes be desirable to provide The tubes E2 and F2 are of' means for indicating the quantity of powder contained in chamber 132. I have shown a simple arrangement for accomplishing this result, wherein I arrange a block or plumb M2 within chamber 132 to be dropped as desired upon the mass oi. powder contained therein. A' chain or cord N2connccts to said block or plumb and, leading out through tube E2 and over suitable guide-sheaves, carries one or more pointers or indexes O2, arranged to operate in connection with stationaryscales or indicators 12.,. In this manner the quantity of powder contained in the chamber B2 may be notedV at any instant in the operation of the apparatus, thus warning the operator in case of an oversnpply or an nndersupply, and hence enabling the supply to the chainber to bo adjustably regulated by adjusting the stroke of aolnlating-rod M in the manner above described.

When the plumb M2 is not being used, it may be raised or drawn up olf the powder and the cli/ain N2 fastened by a hook at the lower end, thus retaining the plumbelevatcd or suspended.

The powder may be delivered from chambor B2 in suitable quantities to form charges for the cartridges in any suitable or convenient manner and by any suitable or convenient arrangement or construction of apparatus, which may be varied, altered, or changed according to the details of construction and arrangement of the particulartype or form of cartridge-loading machine in connection with which the invention is employed. I

have shown a convenient arrangement of ture or opening across which is mounted to slide or reciprocate a powder-slide A2, said slide being suitably mounted in guides formed in th'c supportingframe plato S2. A convenient arrangement of simple construction for oil'ecting the reciprocation of the powderslide A2 is shown, wherein the end of said slide is pivotally connected to a lever 1&2, provided with a cani-slot C, in which operates a projection from the reciprocating head O or other convenient movable part. of 'the niachine. v liy this construction and arrangement it will be seen .that upon each complete reciprocation of head-O the powder-slide is moved iirst into position for the pocket Ds therein to communicate with the aperture or' opening in the chamber li2 to receive therein a quantity of powder suilicicnt to form a charge for a shell or cartridge and then into position for said pocket to register with opening R2, thus depositing such charge into the open end ot the shell-case presented in alinement with said opening or aperture R2, and finally back again into position to receive IOO another -charge from the chamber B2. In'

order to adjustably regulate the amount of powder required for each charge, the area of the charge-.pocket D3 `in the powder-slide may be varied by means 'of a nected to a threaded stud or bolt F3, tapped into a threaded seatiii the powder-slide Ai.`

Upon the movement of the powder-slide into position for the charge of powder to be delivered through aperture R2 into the'shellcase placed to receive 'it the plate E3 forms a cut-off for the powder reniainingl'in'chamber B2.

As an additional element of safetya small hole Grrs may be drilled through the table or Support upon which the shell-cases rest at point-sin line with the primer of the shell, thus avoiding danger of exploding the primer at those points where pressure is exerted by the loading devices yand which might otherwise sis cause the primer to lbe exploded. f

Froin the foregoing descriptionit willbe seen that I provide an exceedingly simple' and efiicient arrangement of safety appliances for reducing `the dangerresulting from explosions to a minimum and wherein the powder is efficiently delivered in charges of suitl able size and quantity into the shell-cases.

Many variationsiu the details of construction and arrangement would readily occur to persons skilled in the art and still fall within the spiritand scope of my invention. vI do not desire, therefore, stricted to the exact construction andl arrangement shown and described; but,

Having now set forth the object andinature of lmy invention and a construction and arrangement embodying the principles thereof and having 4explained the purpose, function, and mode of operation of such-apparatus, what I claim as new and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Iatent of the UnitedStates, is-

1. In a safety appliance for cartridge-loading machines, a chamber adapted to receive v the powder, av transferring device adapted to receive fro'n such chamber a sufficient quantity of powder to form/a charge for a single shell, means for actuating said transferring device to deliver said charge to the cartridgeshells, a hopper removed from such .chamber and adapted to receive the powder in quantity, and means for delivering the powder in small quantity from said hopper to said chainbei', as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a chamber adapted to receive .thempowden means for transferring the powder in charges,

from said chamber to the cartridge-shells, in

combination with a tube communicating with,

said chamber and extending outside of the building in which said chamber is located, and an inclosing tube for such first-inentioncd tube, as and for the purpose set forth.

In an apparatus of the class describedl a chamber adapted to receive plate E3, con- A small quantities, and

to be limited or 'refed to a cartridge-loading machine, a safetytube communicating with said chamber and .extending to the outside of the building in which said chamber is located, a fragile partition arranged iii the communication between said chamber and safety-tube, and an` inclosing tube for said safety-tube, as and for the purpose set forth; p

L In an apparatus of the class described, a chamberadapted to receive the powder to be delivered to a cartridge-loading machine, a

safety-'tube communicating with said cham- I ber, an inclosing tube for said ,safety-tube,

, said inclosingtubev being of larger internal to the cartridge-loading machine, said trau-s- 9 5 ferring device adapted to receive a charge for* e a's and for the purpose set forth. 6. In an apparatus of the class described, a chamber, an open-ended tube communicating e therewith, a hopper arranged out of line with the open end o'fsaid'tube and adapted to receivethepowder in bulk, means for delivering the powder-from said hopper into the open end of said tube in small quanttties', a

transferringdevice for transferring vthe powder in separate chargesfrom saidchamber to a cartridge-loading machine, and means for actuating said transferring device, the purpose set forth.

' 7. In an apparatus of the class described@ chamber, a hopper communicating therewith' and adapted to receive the 'powder in bulk, a drum provided with pockets or' recesses in the peripheral surface thereof and arranged to forma cut-off for said hopper, means for rotatively actuating said' drum, and .means foradjfustably. regulating the extent of movement of said actuating means, in combina.- tion with a transferring device for delivering the powder in separate .charges from said chamber to avcaritrid-ge-loading machine,

Aacartridge-shell, and means for actuating the Lsame,

roo

as and for" 'IIO means for actuating said transferring device,

asand-for the purpose set forth. t

8. In an apparatus of the class described, a

chamber, a hopper communicating therewith and adapted to receive yt-he powder in bulk, a drum having pockets inthe peripheral surface thereof and forming a cut-od for the delivery end of said hopper, av ratchet-disk connected to said drum, a lever carrying a paw-1 thepowderto be arranged to engagethe teethof said ratchetdisk for rotativcly actuating the same, a rod connected to said lever, and means for reciprocating said rod, as and for the purpose sot forth.

9. ln an apparatus of'the class described, a chamber, a hopper communicating therewith, a drum having peripheral pockets and arranged to form a cut-off for the delivery end of said hopper, a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism for rotatively actuating said drum, a reciprocating pitman having a slot in the end thereof, and a rod connecting said pitman and pawl-and-ratchct mechanism, said rod provided with a pin arranged to operaie in the slot in said pitman, as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, a chamber, a hopper communicating therewith, a drum having pockets in the peripheral surface thereof and arranged to form a cutolf for thedelivery end of said hopper, a pavrland-ratchet mechanism for rotatively actuating said drum, a rod and pitman for actuating said pawl-aiid-mtcliet mechanism, and an adjusting-link connecting said rod and I itinaii,1\f-'heiel y the extent of movement of said pawl-and-ratchet mechanism may be regulated` as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, a chamber, a hopper communicating therewith, a drum having pockets in the peripheral surface thereof and arrangedv to form a cutoff for the delivery end of said hopper, a pawland-ratchet mechanism for rotatively actuating said drum, a reciprocating head, a pitman actuated thereby, a ,rod for operating said pawl-and-ratchet mechanism, a link t0 which said pitman is connected, and means for adjhstably connecting said rod to said link, whereby the stroke of said pitman and rod may be adjusted, as and for the purpose set forth.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, a chamber, an open-ended tube communicating with said chamber, means for delivering the powder in small quantities to said chamber, means for regulating the delivery of the powder, a plumb-block .arranged within said chamber to rest upon the powder contained therein, a chain or cord connected to said plumb -block land extending through said tube, a pointer carried thereby, and a stationary gage coperating with said pointer for indicating the quantity of powder contained in said chamber, as and for lthe purpose set forth.

13. In an apparatus of thc class described,

a chamber, a. delivery-tube communie-atingv therewith, a hopper arranged out of line with said tube, means for delivering the powder from said hopper to said tube and int-o the chamber, said chamber having an opening adjacent to the `base thereof, a powder-slide arranged to move past said opening, and provided with a pocket adapted to receive the powder in suicient quantity to form a charge for the cartridge-shell, and means for moving said slide, as and for the purpose 'set l forth.

14. In an apparatus of the class described, 7o

a chamber, a delivery-tube communicating therewith, a hopper arranged outof line with said tube, means for delivering the powder from said hopper io said tube and into the chamber,said chamber provided with an opening adjacent to the base thereof, a frame-plate having an aperture therethrough in line with which the cartridge shell or case is to be placed,- and a powder-slide having a recess therein adapted to receive a chargeof powder from said chamber and deliver the same through saidaperture into the shell or case, and means for reciprocating said slide to cause said vrecess or seat to alternately register with the opening in said chamber and the aperture in said base-plate, as and for the purpose set forth.v l

15. In an apparatus'of the class described, a chamber, a delivery-tube communicating therewith, a hopper arranged out of line with said tube, means for delivering the powder from said hopper to said tube and into the cham ber, said chamber having an opening adjacent to the base thereof, a powder-slide provided with a plate arranged to form a recess of sufficient size to contain a cliargao-"pw der, means for adjusting said. plate whereby the size of said recess may be varied, and means for reciprocating said slide whereby said recess is brought into register with said opening to receive a charge of powder, and then into register with a cartridge-shell case to deposit the charge therein, as and for the purpose set forth.

16. In safety appliances for cartridge-load lef;

ing machines, the combinationofa hopper to receive the powder in quantity, a chamber removed from said hopperand adapted to receive the powder therefrom in small quantities, means for transferring the powder from said hopper to said chamber, and regulating the quantity thus transferred, means fordelivering the powder in charges from said chamber to the,cart`ridgeshell, means for regulating the charges so delivered, and safety-pipes communicating with said chamber and extending outside the building for relieving pressure in ease of explosion, and conducting the fire or flash resulting from the explosion away from the powder-hopper.V

17. In safety appliances for cartridge-loading machines, the combination of-a hopper to receive the powder in quantity, a chamber removed from said hopper and adapte" to receive the powder therefrom in less qualit` ties, means for transferring the powder from said hopper -to said chamber, and lregulating.;- the amount so transferred, moans for delivering the powder from Ysaid chamber to the shells, means for regulating the amount so delivered, safety-pipes communicating with said chamber and extending outside-'the building, for relieving pressure in case of explosion, and conducting the flash or firo resulting from the explosion awayzfrom ehe powder-hopper, in witnesi wheieof have hereuno Sef my fiagle'memxs forclosiugthe safety-pipes, and. hand, ibis 8th day of Sepembe, A1B. 1900,

a. 'tabe or support for the shells, provided im *.he pesseuce nf the subscribing witneses. io with a small opening to relieve the pressure GERSHOM MOORE PETERS.

5 exerted on the shelLprimer by the loading de Witnesses:

vices, 2.11 as and for the purpose substentiaily A.. M. BEEKLEY, as described. V L. R. MYERS. 

